ERIC Pickles is 'a jolly fat man' according to an MP heading up a parliamentary group for the equality of body image.

MP Caroline Nokes was caught up in her own gaffe today after she found herself making a similar comment to that of MP Keith Vaz.

In an attempt to slam the comments made by the MP who highlighted Theresa May's 'thin' appearance on social network Twitter, Ms Nokes, who is the head of the all-party Parliamentary group on body image found herself branding Eric Pickles in the same way.

Ms Nokes had criticised Mr Vaz, saying "We need to move away from how people look and think about how people do their job and that they are healthy."

But today speaking to Radio 5 live, discussing the appearance of fellow MPs, she said: "I think Eric Pickles makes a feature of the fact that he's a jolly fat man."

When probed as to how her comment was any different than those made by Vaz, she claimed she had be "conned" into the statement.

She said: "I have to say that I have never previously commented on his weight and full marks to the BBC for conning me into that this morning."

Keith Vaz said Theresa May was looking 'too thin'

I think Eric Pickles makes a feature of the fact that he's a jolly fat man

MP Caroline Nokes

Ms Nokes argued that Mr Pickles would happily refer to himself in this way.

But in a recent interview, Mr Pickles revealed his sensitivity about his weight.

He said: "I am not 20st. No! Considerably less. But I am not ­saying how much. My weight is a nightmare. My wife looks very disapprovingly at me. I have been on so many diets. The last one was no chips, no cheese and no seconds."

Ms Nokes had previously claimed that no MP would ever pass comment on the weight of a male Home Secretary.